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@eine faire @anni @fitta Letters .Patent No. 66,575, dated July 9, 1867.

IMPROVED CLAMP rea sores oa WIRES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN II. ELWARD, of Mcndota, in thc county -of La Salle, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement lin Rope and Wire-Fastener; and I de hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference bcinghad to the annexed drawings making part of this specification,V in which- Figure l is an elevation showing-the cam-lever attached to the face of the plate, and

Figure 2 is a perspective-view, showing the lever attached to a rib projecting from the face of the plate.

The samelettcrs are employed in both figures in the indication of similar partis.

My invention consists in a cam-lever turning upon a pivot, over the top of which the rope is carried, passing down and under the lower end of the lcvcr, where it is compressed between the end of the lever and a prejectionplaced below it, and in such relation to one another that the rope shall be, by its own weight acting.

upon the upper and long arm ofthe lever, compressed between the lever and the projection. 'This compression will increase with the weight of or strain upon the rope, se that'its escape will be prevented.

This rope-fastener is intended to secure the ends of ropes not otherwise supported, and .is not intended te be applied te ropes which are perfectly taut, except in cases wherev they are not intended to be detached- Nor is-it intended to be 'applied toVA ropes that are to be agitated, the device being rnerely intended to suspend ropes, such as clothes-lines, and those used-for analogous purposes. It isalso applicable to the suspension of telegraph Wires.

A. is a metallic plate, tobe secured to the face of a pest. It is a flat plate where the line is te be drawn parallel to the surface to which it is to be attached. Where the line is to be suspended perpendicularly to this surface the plate should be formed with a rib, A, (iig. 2,) the face of which is perpendicular to the base of the plate. The cam-lever B is pivotcd to this plate so as tb turn freely upon the pivot. The plateis-not indispensable, ller the cam may'be attached directly to the post by avscrew, er in other manner. This cam-lever B is rounded upon the lower end, and the face should be roughened so as to catch the rope .more irmly. The best form is that of an eccentric, though this is not indispensable. The upper, end ofthe earn-lever has a projecting ear on the outside, forming a notch, between it and the plate or other surface te which it is attached, to receive the rope. A projection, C, is placed, attachable to the plate A, er other surface, immediately underneath the lower end of the lever, at such distance that the rope er wire intended to be used may be firmly grasped between it and the cam at B. It should also be roughened. The rope or wire is new carried over the end B2 of the lever and under the cam B1, and between it and the projection C. The other end of the rope being fastened, the weight of the rope will draw forward the long end of the lever B2 and press the lower end Bl..

against the rope, between it and the projection C, vby a force increasing with the weight of the rope erobjects suspended upon it. The clamps may be either right or left as shown in fig. 1.V The rope may be detached by relieving the end B? from the pressure of the rope and opening -the jaws. Where the rope iste be perfectly taut it could net be released; and if it iste be agitated this clamp will not answer, for it would shake loose. Its use is therefore intended te be cenned to the cases such as have been stated.` lI am aware that eccentrics have been employed for securingthe ends oi' ropes and analogous purposes, which hold by-a grasp increasing with the strain upon the rope, and I de not claim the inode merely of compressing the rope between the projection C and the ecce'ntric B1, but what I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-F A device for suspending a rope er wire, in which its own strain is made to act upon the long arm B2 of the cam-lever B, thereby compressing .the rope er wire between thesliort arm B and aprojection, C, .substantially a5 SEtforth. v

4n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' J. H. ELWARD.

VWitnesses.:

R. MASON, `JOHN S. HeLLINGsunAD. 

